Time to take back the term "Liberal"

[johnaries]

As we all know, over the past couple of decades the RW pundits worked a subtle campaign which eventually turned the term "Liberal" into a dirty word. They were so successful, that many Liberals now call themselves "Progressives" to avoid the "dirty word" Liberal. Recently, they used "Talk Radio" but prior to that they used flyers/handouts/mailers and more recently chain emails.

It's time to reclaim the true meaning of the term again, just like JFK did in 1960: http://www.liberalparty.org/JFKLPAcceptance.html


This is our mission: we begin our own campaign of flyers/handouts/mailers/emails to take the term Liberal back and redefine it BACK to it's original meaning!

And here is my idea for a flyer/handout/mailer/chain email:

In Gothic or Garamond or some other "ancient press" font:


In 1776, the Liberals were:

then insert a recognizable picture of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, like this one:




below that in the same Gothic font ...

And the Conservatives were:

insert a picture of the british Redcoats, such as this one...




you could stop there, or if you wish add a couple of quotes from RW Conservatives talking about "rounding up" or "killing" Liberals. There are plenty of outragious statements to this effect by Ann Coulter, Micheal Savage, and Rush Limbaugh. Just be careful not to over-do it. I know, I know, they already over-did it, but less is more. Do one or two or maybe three, and then let them find the rest on their own. And be sure to do it in a small font, as if it barely deserved recognition.

Finally, I would end it with something like:

Think about it, Fellow Patriot!

[Harkpark]

1. Nothing wrong with word

Throw away that poor abuse feeling and stand tall for word.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. I'm a liberal and proud of it! nt

[angrycarpenter]

3. The christian right should re-read the sermon on the mount

That is the best liberal speech ever given. Pilate was a conservative.

[johnaries]

5. Thanks for reminding me: Jesus was a Liberal!

I've seen all kinds of "fish" bumper stickers and magnets. Why haven't I seen more "Jesus was a Liberal" bumper stickers?

Whether you are Christian or not, if you read his story you have to admit that Jesus really was one of the biggest Liberals that ever lived.

So, how do the Conservatives get off claiming to be "Christians" and deny almost all his teachings?

Jesus was a Liberal. Why aren't there more bumper stickers proclaiming that? Why don't more Christian Preachers talk about his actual teachings?

Jesus was a Liberal. He was a Liberal Activist. How many Liberals do you know walked into a church and actually beat up the people making a profit and physically drove them out, making a mess of everything in his anger? That's a Major Liberal Activist!

I'm a Daoist, but I want to see more "Jesus was a Liberal" bumper stickers out of you fuckers. If you are really serious.

On a side note -

Actually, I think Jesus was a Daoist, if you read what he actually taught and ignore the politics that came later. Saul/Paul was an opportunist and a politician. I hate him. Ignore his writings and focus on what Jesus actually said. But that is my opinion. I would love to discuss it further, but if you are happy and confident in your beliefs then it is not my place to dissuade you.

[angrycarpenter]

6. I had to go look up what daoism was about.

Because I had no idea. I will look into it further with interest.

I think Jesus was protesting the secular power that the church had over the people. The head of the household had to travel to temple every year and pay a tithe and make sacrifices. This system put great hardship on the poor who could not afford to travel or give their best animals to the altar fire. His political message has been all but erased from the bible. His message- when a church seeks to gain secular power over the people then it is tainted and must be cleansed. No wonder St. Paul had it removed and destroyed the original texts.

WWJD? He would tell the christian right to quit worshiping him and start acting like him. He never wanted to be a god, he was too humble for that. He wanted the poor to eat and the sick to be healed and people to be treated fairly by those in power. I admire Jesus the man, I care little for Jesus the god. He was invented for another church to gain secular power.

[scarletwoman]

4. "Love me, I'm a liberal"

by Phil Ochs

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I read New republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal